Gas-engine



(No Model.)

J. E. VALENTINE 85 A. T. GEIGG.

GAS ENGINE.

Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

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f UNITED STATES YPATENT Ormes..q

JOSEPH R. VALENTINE AND ALEXANDER T. GRIGG, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,116, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed December 24, 1889. Serial No. 334,900. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH R. VALENTINE and ALEXANDER T. Gares, citizens of the United States, and residents in the city of Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo, in the State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Gas-Engine, of which the following is a de- Scription.

The invention relates to that class 0f eugines in which the actuating-power is evolved through the combustion of a gaseous compound which is produced through the commingling of a hydrocarbon gas or vapor and asuitable volume of atmospheric air, the compound and the air being introduced under pressure, either separately or together, into the cylinder of the engine or into a chamber which is vin direct communication with such cylinder.

The invention consists in certain novel parts and in certain novel combinations of parts in or in connection with a gas-engine, as will first be described in detail, and then specifically indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents in vertical longitudinal central section so much of an engine of the described character as is necessary to a clear understanding of our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the vaporizing apparatus to which our invention in large part relates, the section being taken in the line fy y in Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents in longitudinal central section Va modification in the construction of the vaporizing apparatus and its inlet and outlet connections. Fig. t represents a further modification in the construction of the vaporizing mechanism, relating particularly to the means employed in introducing compressed air to the vaporiZing-space. Fig. 5 is a transverse section in the line e' zof Fig. 4. Fig. G represents in longitudinal central section a modified form of vaporizingsection in which the filling of felt and the perforated cylinder are of equal length.

For the purposes of this invention the aircompression cylinder A and the power-cylinder B may in their leading elements be of any ordinary or approved construction, being provided with Water-jackets a and b, respectively, and with ordinary inlet and outlet openings and appliances not necessary to be'fully shown for operating t-he movable parts. The air-compression cylinder has the usual provision of piston a and inlet and outlet valves a2 and a3, and the power-cylinder has piston Zi', operating in connection with inlet-openings, to be described, and outlet opening and valve b2. Connecting the air-compression cylinder with the power-cylinder is the compressed-air pipe C, composed of longitudinal sections 010, c, cl2, cl3, c, c, and c1, as shown. The compressed-air pipe is provided in its section c12 with a diaphragm CZ, which has an opening and a valve-seat c and closing-valve O', and it is provided also in connection with the diaphragm and its opening with a lateral pipe c,wliich has a diaphragm CZ', valve-seat c2, and closing-valve O2. with its longitudinal center the head of the power-cylinder is recessed to forni the flame or combustion chamber F, While a corresponding portion of the end section c1G of the com pressed-air pipe O is similarly. recessed to form a mixing-chamber F', the inlet-opening f of which hasl seat f2, which is closed by valve fl.

i The mixing-chamber F and the combustion-chamber F are separated by a compound diaphragm G, which consists of inner and and outer finely-perforated metallic plates c and g2 and an intermediate section g of fine wire-gauze, and which is suitably secured be tween the power-cylinder and the end section, as clearly seen in Fig. l. At one side, between the inlet opening f and the compound diaphragm G, the mixing-chamber has a vapor-inlet opening or passage h2, and upon the opposite side of such diaphragm the combustion-chamber F is provided with a lighting opening and passage Z, which is closed by a valve Z.

'Between the sections c13 and 015 of the compressed-air pipe O, is secured the'vaporizinf apparatus c, the cylindrical outer shell c17 oct which is, by preference, of somewhat greater diameter than the contiguous sections, and is provided with a series of interior longitudinal grooves or passages c1S in any desired number. Vithin this cylinder or outer shell -c1T and coincident with the sections c13 and 015 is the tubular Wick-like vaporizing screen or cylinder c, which is composed of woolen felt, while within the felt is fixed the inner At a point coincident tube or cylinder c330, which is formed from thin finely-perforated lnetal. The cylinder cUhas a tapped opening c21 to receive the threaded end of an oil-induction pipe E, the inner eX- tremity of which, for a short distance, has a felt filling e, and it has also a similar opening c22 to receive one end of a vapor-@duction pipe H, which also is at this end preferably provided with a felt filling 71.. This vaporpipe 1I, which at a suitable point is provided with a suitable regulating-valve or stop-cock 7i', is by its opposite end connected to the mixingchamber F', where it is coincident with the opening or short passage 712, already described.

As will be seen in Fig. l, the filter or vaporizing-felt c19 is somewhat shorter than the parts c1T and c2", between which it is embraced, thus providing an annular end chamber or passage o23 between the main passage of the compressed-air pipe C and the grooves 018 in the cylindrical shell c,

In the modified construction represented in Fig. the oil-induction pipe and the vaporcduction pipe are united at a point a short distance from the body of the shell c, the oil being fed inwardly and the vapordischarged outwardly through the short central pipe below their point of junction. This construetion may in some in stances be advantageously employed.

In Figs. @t and 5 the chamber or passage e2 is represented as separated from the felt vaporizing-filling cln by a metallic ring c2, which has perforations p, and which is provided in its periphery with a series of notches or indentations c25, which correspond with the longitudinal grooves cm in the inner surface of the cylindrical shell c1T ot` the vaporizing apparatus c.

In Fig. l a short passage or connection a opens into a reservoir (not shown) of suitable dimensions for compressed air.

It will be understood that neither the chamber 093 nor the series olgrooves c1S in the shell of the vaporizing apparatus is essential to the successful operation ot the same. \Vhile cach constitutes a desirable feature, neither is indispensable. It will be obvious also that the pipe or passage for compressed air may be made up otherwise than of the several sections represented and described, the essential requisites being a pipe or equivalent passage for air and vapor from the air-compression cylinder to the power-cylinder and a vaporizingapparatus which constitutes a portion of such pipe or passage and which has communication with the'eomlmstion-chamber of such power-cylimler.

In the operation ot' the appztratus, the valve C being closed and the valves C2 and 71, bein opened, a suitable quantity of compressed air, forced through the lateral pipe c, which leads from a point behind to a pointin front otl the diaphragm d, will pass through the perforated cylinder ci" and in to and through the felt filling el, breaking up and Vaporizing the oil therein, and constituting in connection therewith an inflammable gaseous compound which iinds its way in a fine stream through the pipe II and -tln'ough the mixingchamber F into the eomluistionchamber F, where, upon the application of a lighted match or other flame at the opening p:issage or lighting-port 7, it will be instantly ignited. The valves 7 and C2 being thereupon closed, the valve C being opened, the pressure being increased, and the valve j being operated at regular intervals through the medium of a suitable lever, (not shown,) which is actuated by the shaft of the engine, Vapor and air commingled will be continuously supplied to the mixing-chamber l1", and through it and through the diaphragm G to the combustion-chamber F, whence the cxpansive force is exerted to operate the piston b in a well-known manner, the exhaust finding exit at regular intervals through the opening controlled by the outlet-Valve 712.

It will be understood that the space within the vaporizer and its conducting-pipe Il, although not great, is yet ample to afford a continuous supply of thc combustible compound sufficient to maintain the flame within the coinbustion-chambcr, even it for a considerable space ot time the injection of oil to the vaporizer should be discontinued.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed isl. In a gas-engine, an air-compressing cylinder, a )ower-cylinder, a vaporizing apparatus which is exterior to the power-cylinder, and a tubular passage which connects the air-compressing cylinder with the power-cyl-` inder, and which embraces the exterior Vaporizing apparatus, in combination.

2. In a gas-engine, an air-compressing cylinder, a powcr-cylinder, and a tubular passage which connects the air-compressing cylinder with the power-cylinder, and which is composed in part ot an intermediate VaporiZing-section which furnishes the sole supply of combustible compound to the power-cylinder, and which is connected by two distinct and independent passages with suchl powercylinder, in combination, for the purposes specified.

3. In a gas-engine, an air-compressing cylinder, a power-cylinder, a tubular passage which connects the air-compressing cylinder with the power-cylinder, and a Vaporizingsection which constitutes an intermediate part el such tubular passage, and which is connected with the power-cylinder by two passages, one ol which conducts the main vapor-supply and the other et which connects a restricted vapor-suppl y for the maintenance of a flame within the combustion-chambcrof such power-cylinder, in comlgiination.

et. In a gas-engine, an air-compressing cylinder, a power-cylinder, a tubular conductingpassage which leads from the air-comyjuessing cylinder to the power-cylinder, and a vaporizing-section which constitutes an inter- IOO IIO

mediate part of such tubular conduit, and which is connected with the power-generating section of the power-cylinder by two passages, one of which conducts the'main volume of vapor, which is supplied at brief intervals, and the other of which conducts a restricted non-intermittent Vapor-supply for maintaining a continuous flame Within the combustion-chamber, in combination.

5. In a gas-engine, an air-compressing cylinder, a power `cylinder, a tubular passage which embraces a cylindrical vaporizing-section connecting the air-compressing cylinder with the power-cylinder, an oil-induction pipe discharging into the cylindrical vaporizingsection, and a Vapor-eduction pipe, which at its receiving end is connected with the cylindrical vaporizing-section, and which at its discharging end communicates with the combustion-chamber of the power cylinder, in combination, substantially as and for the pur poses set forth.

6. In a gas-engine, an aircompressing cylinder, a power-cylinder, a sectional tubular passage which connects the air-compressing cylinder with the power-cylinder, and which embraces anoil-receivin g and vapor-discharging vaporizing-section, and which embraces also a central valve-controlled opening for the passage of the main air-supply, anda lateral valve-controlled passage for conveyance of a restricted airsupply, in combination, substantially as specified.

7. In a gas-engine, a tubular passage for compressed air and for vapor, which is composed in part of a vaporizingsection which embraces a cylindrical outer shell, a foraminated inner cylinder, and an intermediate filling of felt.

8. In a gas-engine, a sectional conductingpipe which embracesA a cylindrical Vaporizing apparatus in which are combined a foraminated inner cylinder, a cylindrical outer shell, an intermediate tubular iilling of felt, an oil-pipe which discharges through the outer shell into the felt filling, and a regulated vapor-discharge pipe which receives Vapor from the space Within which the felt is embraced.

9. Ina gas-engine, a cylindrical vaporizingsection in which air is forced from the interior of the cylinder outwardly,and which embraces an imperforate outer shell, a foraminated inner cylinder, and an intermediate filling of felt which is shorter than the cylindrical parts between which it is embraced, and whereby an annular chamber or passage for compressed air is formed, substantially as described and shown.

10. In a gas-engine, a cylindrical vaporizing apparatus in which air is forced from within laterally outward, which embraces a close outer shell which has interior longitudinal grooves, a foraminated inner tube or cylinder, an intermediate felt illing of smaller longitudinal extent than the closed outer shell, and an annular end chamber which is coincident with the felt filling and which serves to insure the passage of compressed air to the longitudinal grooves in the outer shell.

ll. In a gasengine,an air-compressing cylinder, a power-cylinder, an intercommunicating main air-pipe which is provided with a diaphragm which has a valved opening, and a lateral auxiliary valved pipe which conducts air in restricted quantities from a point in rear to a point in front of the diaphragm in such main air-pipe, in combination.

12. In a gas-engine, a vaporizing-section which constitutes a part of a compressed air and vapor passage, a power-cylinder which has a combustion-chamber, an end section of such compressed-air passage which is provided with a mixing-chamber, a foraminated diaphragm between the combustion-chamber and the mixing-chamber, and a valved passage which extends from the vaporizing-section to the mixing-chamber, in combination.

13. In a gas-engine, an air-compressing cylinder, a power-cylinder, an intercommunicating passage, a vaporizing apparatus which constitutes a part of such intercommunicating 'passage and which is concentric therewith, a

combustion-chamber at the entrance to the power-cylinder, a mixing-chamber between the compressed-air passage and the combustion-chamber provided with a Valved opening for the regulated injection of compressed air and vapor, a valved tubular passage connect ing the vaporizing-chamber with the mixingchamber, and a foraminated diaphragm between the mixing-chamber and the combustion-chamber, combined .for operation substantially as described.

14. In a gas-engine, a power-cylinder, a mixing-chamber having a regulated air and vapor injecting opening,a combustion-chamber at the entrance to the power-cylinder, a foraminated diaphragm which separates the mixing-chamber from the combustion-chamber, a vapor-injecting pipe which discharges into the mixing-chamber, and a lighting passage or port which opens into the combustionchamber and which is provided with a closing valve or slide, in combination, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH R. VALENTINE. ALEXANDER T. GRIGG. Witnesses:

GEORGE A. SHIELDS, DAVID BEDFORD.

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